1.2 Billion People Worldwide Live With Mental Disorders, Study Finds

Nearly 1.2 billion people worldwide are living with mental disorders, according to a new study that says the figure is close to double the level recorded in 1990. The findings place mental disorders as the leading cause of disability globally, ahead of heart disease, cancer and musculoskeletal conditions. The study is the most comprehensive to date, covering 204 countries and regions over the 1990-2023 period. Anxiety and severe depression emerged as the most common disorders. Since 2019, depression rates have risen by 24%, while anxiety disorders have increased by more than 47%, the research found. Women are more affected than men: 620 million women and 552 million men were living with mental disorders in 2023. Access to treatment remains limited, with only 9% of people with severe depression receiving the lowest level of care. Even in high-income countries, treatment access does not exceed 30%.